Ralph Strangis

Ralph Strangis is a play-by-play commentator who has been the commentator for the Dallas Stars ice hockey franchise of the NHL since the team's move to Dallas in 1993 until April 2015.
Strangis has also worked as a commentator for ESPN, Fox Sports, and the Westwood One Radio Network, covering a variety of sports. He also commentates for games broadcast on NHL Radio, which have included regular season, playoff, and World Cup games. On April 23, 2015 Strangis decided to leave the Stars after 25 years.
For the 2016-17 NHL season, Strangis returns as an active National Hockey League broadcaster as one of four play-by-play announcers appointed to fill in for the Los Angeles Kings' Bob Miller.

Biography

Early career

Strangis honed his play-by-play skills in Minnesota and Wisconsin, starting with his first paying radio job at the age of 16. He later worked on local Public-access television stations doing play by play for a wide variety of high school and college sports. Strangis is especially remembered for his broadcasts of Bloomington Kennedy and Bloomington Jefferson high school hockey that appeared on Bloomington Educational Cable. Strangis' earliest national exposure was as play-by-play man and ring announcer for the American Wrestling Association on ESPN, where he worked alongside Lee Marshall, and later Eric Bischoff, in the waning days of that promotion.

Although Strangis had a great deal of broadcast experience, his tryout as color commentator on the Minnesota North Stars radio network was a longshot; other better-known sportscasters received more air time during the auditioning process. The five potential candidates split up a game as guest commentators alongside Al Shaver, then voice of the Minnesota North Stars. The two better-known talents each took a period and then the three longshots split up the third, with Strangis going last. When Al Shaver was asked who he liked the best, he chose Strangis. Ralph shone in his audition, with the perfect ability to complement Shaver's play-by-play with insights from the players and his own intimate knowledge of the game. When the Stars moved to Dallas in 1993, Shaver decided to not to migrate south with the franchise and retired. After three more seasons as color commentator (teaming with Mike Fornes), Strangis migrated to the play-by-play mic, effectively cementing his status as the "Voice of the Stars."

Ralph and Razor

In 1996 former NHL goalie Daryl "Razor" Reaugh joined Strangis as the Stars' color commentator, thus creating the popular duo "Ralph and Razor". The two achieved a near cult-like following in the city of Dallas, so much so that, even though fan support and Dallas' media market size could easily support separate radio and television broadcast teams, the Stars elected to continue simulcasting the pair. In 2008, the Stars added in-arena radio (on 97.5FM) allowing fans yet another opportunity to hear the popular team.

In a poll conducted by the Dallas Morning News, his most famous line was voted the most memorable moment in Dallas history. "Hull scores! Yes! Yes! Yes! The Stars win the Stanley Cup, the Stars win the Stanley Cup!"

Personal life

Strangis is active in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex. He serves as a motivational speaker, discussing his successful bout with alcoholism and drug addiction. He also appeared in the play Don't Dress for Dinner at a theater in Coppell, Texas.

Other appearances

In the 2006 film Glory Road, Strangis has a speaking role as a courtside broadcaster. He was a contestant on the game show Press Your Luck in 1984; on the May 28 and 29, 1984 episodes of Press Your Luck, Strangis won $7,431 in cash and prizes. Strangis also appears often in commercials for the Stars that air on TV and on the jumbo-tron at the Stars' home arena.